Tristan
Mannix '07 enters his first season as the assistant coach for the USI
men's and women's cross country/track and field coaching staff. He will
assist Head Coach Mike Hillyard in all aspects of the program.

"Tristan will make an excellent addition to our coaching staff," Hillyard
said. "He possesses a clear vision of what is necessary to maximize one’s
potential, and he is uncompromising in his goals and aspirations.

Mannix is no stranger to USI as he recently completed a stellar career with
the Screaming Eagles that included numerous awards and a pair of trips to
the NCAA II Cross Country Championships.

A native of Crothersville,
Indiana, Mannix had his most productive season in a USI uniform in 2007-08.

In the fall, Mannix earned All-GLVC honors when he finished seventh at
the GLVC Cross Country Championships. His performance helped the Eagles to
their third straight GLVC title.

Mannix not only became one of USI's top
distance runners in 2007-08, but he established himself as one of the
conference's premier distance runners during the track season when he won
the league title in the 3,000 meters and took home first-team All-GLVC
honors during the indoor campaign.

During the indoor season, Mannix also
posted his first NCAA II provisional qualifying time when he ran the 5,000
meters in 14 minutes, 45.19 seconds at the Indiana Relays. His performance
in that race marked one of four individual titles for Mannix during the
indoor season.

Mannix carried
that success over to the outdoor season where he earned second-team All-GLVC
honors after finishing second in the 5,000 meters at the GLVC Outdoor
Championships. He also posted an NCAA II provisional qualifying time in the
10,000 meters after narrowly missing a mark in the 5,000 meters earlier in
the season.

"Everyone who knows Tristan knows that he is very confident in
his abilities," Hillyard said. "He promised when he came to USI that he
would eventually become a frontrunner for our program. True to his word,
Tristan won the 2008 GLVC indoor 3,000 meter title and cracked the school’s
all-time top 10 list at 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters.

"He is a true example of what is possible when you hold tight to your
dreams, believe in your abilities, and leave no stone unturned in your
pursuit of excellence," Hillyard continued. "He will be an outstanding
mentor for our teams as we continue to chase tradition."

Mannix, who graduated from USI with a bachelor's degree in
sociology and a minor in criminal justice in 2007, is currently working on
his master's degree in public administration.